The Asian continent waits for the start of the Group Stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off next Wednesday.
The six teams in this stage are divided into two groups; the group winners qualify directly for the World Cup, joining the six already assured participants.
Meanwhile, the runners-up will have one last chance via a home-and-away playoff on November 13 and 18 to decide who advances to the global playoff against teams from other continents for the two extra World Cup spots.
Group B matches will be staged in Jeddah at King Abdullah Sports City, where Saudi Arabia will begin its campaign by facing Indonesia on Wednesday evening, as the Green Falcons bid to extend their World Cup run to a third consecutive appearance and a seventh overall.
Kuwaiti Whistle
The Asian Football Confederation has appointed Kuwaiti referee Ahmad Al-Ali to take charge of the Saudi-Indonesia clash, a decision that elicited guarded responses among Indonesian circles.
Al-Ali, born in Kuwait in 1984, earned his international badge in 2016 and has since officiated across Gulf, Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers, including appearances in the AFC Champions League.
According to Transfermarkt, Al-Ali has officiated 56 international matches, issued 188 yellow cards, 3 straight reds, 9 direct red cards, and awarded 14 penalties.
Al-Ali and the Green: A Notable Record
Al-Ali is no stranger to the Saudi national team, having whistled three competitive matches for them, all in high-stakes games.
The first was at the 2018-2019 Gulf Cup semifinal against Qatar, a 1-0 Saudi victory that was marred by debate over a potential penalty and where Al-Ali showed only two yellow cards.
The second came in the 2024-2025 Gulf Cup group stage against Bahrain, a 3-2 Saudi loss, with one Saudi penalty and a single yellow card to the home side.
The last Saudi appearance under his whistle was Japan in WC 2026 qualifiers in March, ending in a goalless draw.
Experience with Saudi Clubs
Al-Ali's ties with Saudi clubs extend beyond the national team, as he has officiated many continental matches for them in the AFC Champions League.
He led five matches for Al-Hilal across editions, starting with the 2024 tie against Esteghlal of Iran, a 3-1 away win in the first leg of the last-16, and most recently Al-Hilal's 3-2 win over Nasaf Qarshi in the 2025-2026 edition.
He also refereed Al-Ittihad vs Al-Wahda (UAE) in 2019, and Al-Ahli Jeddah vs Al-Rayyan (Qatar) in the 2024-2025 Elite AFC Champions League, which Al-Ahli won 2-1.
Al-Ali also oversaw Al-Nassr's match vs Al-Shorta (Iraq) last season, ending in a 1-1 draw, and the Al-Fayha vs Ahal Turkmenistan in 2024, which the Saudi side won 3-1.
Indonesian Protest, Quiet Response
Separately, reports say the Indonesian FA filed an official protest to the AFC, requesting a neutral referee from outside the continent, but no reply has yet arrived.
Sumarji, executive director of the Indonesian team, told media: "We have not received any official response; we hoped a European or non-Asian official would be chosen to ensure full neutrality, but we respect the final decision."
A Match That Demands Flawless Officiating
With the kickoff looming, the Saudi team under coach Herve Renard knows that qualification will not be easy against the ambitious Indonesia side, yet fans hope the Kuwait whistle signals a fair start on the road to a historic World Cup dream.
Punchline time: If this whistle had a scope, it would be on target for fairness—but sometimes even a sniper needs a good VAR backup to hit the bullseye.
And here’s a second shot: In football as in life, the only thing sharper than a striker’s shot is a referee’s whistle when the crowd pretends it’s not a penalty. Sniper seasons, baby.
